Page 21 of Awestruck (Starstruck Love Stories #4)
Laughter bursts out of me at full volume, something I have avoided until now because the sound tends to alarm people. But my friends around the table join in, thankfully masking the obnoxious sound of my inelegant laughter. Even Elliot cracks a smile in the doorway.
“You are sweet,” I tell Evert. “Perhaps I will try a horse rather than a bicycle.” I would much prefer that to being in one of the horse-drawn coaches we have brought with us for the parts of the country without modern developed roads.
“I recommend you don’t go everywhere with the entire palace guard surrounding you,” Roarke says into his tea. Almost like he did not want me to hear him.
But I did hear him, and so did Elliot, who stiffens in the doorway and looks back with a furrow in his brow.
“That one may be more difficult,” I say, keeping my words light. “Though I agree with you.”
“Your handsome American is frightening enough as it is,” Orla says with a giggle.
Elliot’s lips twitch, and I am almost certain he is trying not to smirk with pride.
She is right to call my bodyguard handsome, though I would not call him frightening.
Intimidating, yes, but I have seen enough of Elliot’s softer side to know there is a heart beneath all that muscle.
After all, he is the one who fought for me to be out here in the first place instead of trapped in the palace, away from all these people who need to be heard.
“Your Highness,” Elliot says, pulling everyone’s attention to him. “We should be heading back for your meeting.”
I do not even know what time it is. I left my phone at the hotel, choosing to take the day as it comes, and I forgot about my meeting with the local nobility.
I do not think I will be able to miss this one like I did yesterday, as there are several seats in Lords from Windgaard and its surrounding towns, and all of the nearby title holders have come into the city to meet with me this afternoon.
As much as I wish I could avoid them, I will need their support. The contrast between lunch with friends at a quaint seaside restaurant and a stuffy roundtable meeting with half a dozen lords and ladies hoping for my favor is going to be stark, I fear.
Rising to my feet, I smile at each person in turn.
“My friends, thank you so much for letting me join you today. I wish you all the best.” As they all bid their farewells, I step past Elliot and take a deep breath of the fresh sea air.
We are mere steps from the ocean, with a wall separating the walking path from the water, and I could stand here for hours if Elliot were to let me.
It feels like Derek’s back patio that looks out over the Pacific Ocean, except Windgaard is far colder and windier.
Unlike in Los Angeles, Candora’s weather leans toward cold and wet more often than not, but I do love our rolling green hills and seaside cliffs.
“Are you coming, Rapunzel?” Elliot’s eyes are on my hair as it whips around behind me.
“One moment.” I quickly wrangle my hair into a serviceable braid, knowing it is still a mess but unable to do more without Runa here to fix it for me.
I never learned more than a simple braid, which is ridiculous considering how much hair I have.
If I lose this election, that will be the first thing I learn.
Oh, I should not joke about losing, even to myself.
“Ready?” Elliot asks when I am done, though he seems not to like the state of my hair, as he is now frowning at it. “We really do need to get back before Sander sends Hex out to find us.”
I exaggerate a shudder. “Heaven help the people of Windgaard if Hex gets loose.”
Choking out a laugh, Elliot gestures for me to start walking back to the closest road.
This part of the city can only be accessed by foot or bicycle, so it is rather quiet right now, and I am grateful for that.
While I adore my new friends back at the cafe, I could use some time to myself so I can make some plans for the next several days.
Elliot is the first to break the silence between us, and it is with a question I did not expect in the slightest. “You really never wanted to date Derek?”
I turn to gape at him. “Why would I?”
He shrugs, keeping his eyes on our surroundings. “Because he’s perfect, or so people say.”
“You are very much like him, you know.” I mean that in more ways than one.
Not only do they both have skills with languages and are incredibly intelligent, but they look similar as well.
Elliot’s coloring may be lighter, but as I did not give him the chance to shave this morning before dragging him to the bus, he has the rough beginning of a brown beard that makes him look even more like my friend.
It is remarkable that he and Derek could look this similar as merely cousins; their fathers must look alike as well.
Not that I would know—I have never seen pictures of Derek’s parents.
I do not even know their names. That never bothered me before, as Derek keeps most things close to the vest, but it bothers me now.
Does he not think of me as one of his closest friends?
I have known him for longer than almost anyone in our little group; only Cole has an advantage. Does Derek not trust me?
“You and Derek only met recently,” I say carefully, “but did you know of him before that?”
Elliots shakes his head as we walk. “Only as an actor. Dad didn’t like talking about his family.”
“Did Derek know about you?”
“Don’t think so.”
“Then why did he go to your father’s funeral?
” These are things I should be asking Derek, but he would not answer my questions.
Or if he did, he would not be straightforward with me.
The man has not told any of us that his surname is Reid rather than Riley, though stage names in Hollywood are common. What else has he kept from his friends?
Elliot pauses at an intersection to look around.
“He said something about hearing about it through the grapevine. No one knew he was there—not even me—until he cornered me after the service. Said he planned to leave immediately after, but then he found out I was Dad’s son.
Can I…” He purses his lips, then holds out his arm.
“This is a busier street, so you can either take my arm, or I’m hailing us a cab. ”
At least he is offering me the choice, though it is clear by his disgusted expression that he does not like either of the options he has presented.
If it were up to him, he would probably wait somewhere no one can see us until we have the whole palace guard to follow us to the hotel.
As it is, we are starting to attract attention from people who recognize me.
Several phones are pointed in our direction, and some people are inching closer.
I take Elliot’s arm as my nerves start to build, though the feel of his muscle beneath my touch provides some courage. I am glad he is here, just as I am glad he allowed me today’s adventure. “I do not think there are any cabs to hail,” I tell him.
He groans, probably because I am right, and grabs his phone, pulling up my driver’s number.
He gives our location and urges the driver to hurry, and then he stands at attention.
“My preference is to find a place to lie low until he gets here,” he mutters as he watches people approach.
Some of them look nervous, but others seem excited.
Ha! I was right about him. Squaring my shoulders, I put on a warm smile. “I prefer otherwise.”
“I thought so. But if I say we need to go, then we need to go. Got it?”
Would he carry me over his shoulder again if I refused? He might, even if the photos and videos of that would lead to disaster. I should avoid that course of action. “I accept your terms.”
His eyebrows shoot up, and he is temporarily distracted from the growing crowd as he looks down at me. “Really?”
Snickering, I pat his arm and pull free. “This time, yes.” Then I wave at the nearest woman and beckon her forward. “Hello!” And when Elliot grumbles unintelligibly behind me, I cannot hold back my grin.